Myroxylon is a genus of Fabaceae native to Latin America.
History
The first described species in this genus was M. balsamum. It was originally described in 1753 by Linnaeus as Toluifera balsamum, based on a specimen collected in the province of Cartagena (at the time Tolú was located in the province of Cartagena). The genus Myroxylon was first established by Linnaeus filius in 1781, when he described M. peruiferum based on a specimen collected by Mutis in South America. Although Toluifera is prior in term of publication time, Myroxylon is chosen as the conserved name and Toluifera is rejected. The name derives from Greek μύρρα (myrrha, "myrrh") and ξύλον (xylon, "wood").
Species
Some authors recognize infra-specific taxa based, mainly, in their balsam phytochemistry; while other authors do not recognize such categories. There are reports of differences in composition of balsams obtained from M. balsamum var. balsamum (Tolu balsam tree), M. balsamum var. pereirae (Peru balsam tree), and M. peruiferum (quina).
It is in the flowering plant family Fabaceae (Leguminosae). There are two species:
Image
Bark
Scientific name
Common name
Distribution
Elevation (m)
Myroxylon balsamum
Santos Mahogany, Cabreuva
Southern Mexico and Central and South America
200–690 m
Myroxylon peruiferum
Quina
Southern Mexico and Central and South America
540–2000 m
Distribution
Myroxylon species grow in Central America (primarily in El Salvador) and South America.
Myroxylon balsamum occurs in Central America, and northern and western South America, it is fairly common in tropical forest at 200–690 m elevation. In Peru and Brazil this species is mostly associated with rivers, and sometimes grows on lateritic soil. It is found in remnants of mesophillous forest. At present it is considered as being of least concern (LC) according to CITES classification.
Myroxylon peruiferum is disjunctly distributed in the Americas, from Mexico to northern Argentina and southern...
